Surge in Highway Robberies Raises Alarms for Expatriates in Bangladesh
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Synopsis
Recent highway robberies in Bangladesh, especially targeting expatriates, have surged alarmingly under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, leading to heightened concerns about safety and law enforcement effectiveness.
Key Takeaways
- Highway robberies have increased significantly in Bangladesh.
- Expatriates are the primary targets of these crimes.
- Robbers often impersonate police or government officials.
- Many business owners refrain from pursuing legal action due to low recovery rates.
- Safety concerns are rising among travelers on major highways.
Dhaka, March 19 (NationPress) In yet another indication of the rapidly worsening law and order situation in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, a concerning rise has been observed in the incidents of highway robberies, primarily targeting expatriates.
As reported by the Bangladesh Highway Police headquarters, these robberies have escalated since the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.
In February 2025, there were 74 robbery cases reported, compared to 71 in January. On February 27 and March 1, two separate incidents occurred in Chauddagram, Comilla, where a Malaysian expatriate and a Kuwaiti expatriate were targeted, according to Bangladesh's leading daily, Prothom Alo.
Numerous incidents are also being reported on other major highways, including Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Tangail, Dhaka-Bogra, Dhaka-Rangpur, and Dhaka-Madaripur.
Among various routes, the Dhaka-Chattogram highway is noted to be the most dangerous in the country.
According to sources from the Highway Police, trucks and vans transporting items such as readymade garments, soybean oil, rods, and other goods are frequently robbed by criminals posing as members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) or the Detective Branch (DB) of the police.
Passenger buses on several highways are also targeted, with robbers boarding in disguise as passengers before committing their crimes.
A businessman in Bangladesh stated that his factory in Gazipur recently lost an entire shipment to robbers. He noted that many business owners refrain from pursuing legal action as cases rarely lead to recovery. When goods are not retrieved, shipments get canceled, resulting in significant financial losses and damaging relationships with foreign clients.
The report highlighted that these crimes are not restricted to nighttime; robbers block roads with fallen trees even in broad daylight to intercept passenger buses.
Many organizations have claimed that the uptick in robberies is due to the inaction and insufficient patrols of law enforcement agencies. The increase in highway robberies and muggings across Bangladesh has raised serious concerns about travel safety, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.
Recent reports indicate that numerous robberies have occurred on highways nationwide in the past weeks, with businessmen, expatriates, and even ordinary citizens falling victim, causing widespread panic and raising doubts about the efficacy of law enforcement.
